Picture frame securing means



Sept. 5, WSQ H. A. PREW PICTURE FRAME SECURING MEANS Filed March 26, 1947 w i Q we yr A y 5 M a 6 2 HP 5 7m. m. fi fl w 1 ,9 y. .Q w HQB ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 5, 1950 PICTURE FRAME SECURING MEANS Harvey A. Prew, Fox Island, R. 1., assignor to Pru-Lesco, Inc., a corporation of Rhode Island Application March 26, 1947, Serial No. 737,343

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a picture frame securing means.

Usually, in the formation of a picture frame from metal, a strip of metal is bent at three locations to form three corners of the frame and the fourth corner is secured by passing a tongue on one member through a slot in the other member with the tongue bent over on the outer side of the member which shows and is unsightly.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a means for securing the ends of the picture frame members together which will be entirely concealed from view.

Another object of this invention is to provide for securing the picture frame together in a concealed manner by forming the necessary securing means from the stock of the frame so that there will be but one piece of stock utilized for the entire frame and its securing means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a lock which will be of such structure as not to interfere with the mounting of the picture and its glass in the frame.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is an elevational view showing the frame with the picture therein;

Fig. 2 is an edge view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the frame just before the ends are secured in position to hold the picture therein;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the frame on line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a, plan view of the picture frame prior to any bending and showing the two ends in section;

Fig. 6 is an end view on line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an end view on line l'! of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view illustrating the parts in substantially the position shown in Fig. 3, but with the picture omitted;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing the parts of Fig. 8 moved into locking position.

In proceeding with this invention, I have formed on the ends of the metal strip which is bent to form the picture frame a lip on one end and a tongue on the other end, The lip is slotted to receive the tongue and a barb is provided on the tongue to engage the lip and prevent the tongue from being withdrawn therefrom.

With reference to the drawings, l0 designates generally the strip from which the frame is formed in elongated rectilinear form consisting of a strip of stock which is notched as at ll, 12 and [3 to divide the strip l0 into four members l4, l5, l6 and H. This frame strip is formed generally channel shaped, there being a wall I8 with a front flange I9 which is bent into ornamental shape, as shown in Fig. 4, and a rear flange 253. Each of these flanges l9 and 20 are notched as above referred to so that the wall it may be bent at the portions 2|, 22 and 23 to provide the members l4, l5, l6 and H in rightangular relation.

The end member I4 is provided with a lip 25 which has a slot 26 therein, and this lip is bent at right angles to the Wall l8, as shown in Fig. 8. The adjacent member I! has its wall I 8 provided with a tongue 21 which will pass through this slot 26, and this tongue is provided with a barb 28 which is bent inwardly from the opening 29 so that when this tongue and the barb 28 pass through the slot the barb being bent back will position the edge 30 of this barb so as to engage the flange 25 and prevent the tongue from being withdrawn from the slot 26. In this way, the two end members I4 and I! are locked together in such a manner that the lock is entirely concealed. The frame [0 is assembled about a picture 3i and the tongue inserted in the slot which affords the mounting for the picture.

I claim:

1. In a picture frame comprising a pair of rectilinear members arranged at right angles and meeting at their ends, a lip on one of said members extending inwardly at right angles thereto having a slot therein with one edge substantially in line with the inner surface of the member carrying the lip and a tongue on the other of said members extending at right angles thereto through said slot and along the inne surface of said member carrying the lip, said member being provided with a barb to engage said lip and prevent the tongue from being withdrawn from the slot.

2. In a picture frame as in claim 1 wherein the lip is covered by the member carrying the tongue.

HARVEY A. PREW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 808,544 Ibison Dec. 25, 1905 2,161,396 Wittel June 6, 1939 

